Jazz Crazy Records

An Archive of Early Jazz on 78 RPM

Category: Jazz

  • “Could I? I Certainly Could” – Fred Rich & his Hotel Astor Orchestra (1926)

    “Could I? I Certainly Could” – Fred Rich & his Hotel Astor Orchestra (1926)

    A nice Fred Rich record that appears in Rust’s Jazz and Ragtime Records 6th edition, which only includes those records “known to have quality hot solos”.

    We’ve got some quality performers present for the session. Imagine being present in the ballroom of the palatial Hotel Astor in 1926 to hear these fellows!

    Looks like Jimmy Dorsey and Ray Bauduc were not part of this session – please read Javier Soria Laso’s comment on this video for details.

    Recorded in New York City on March 10, 1926.
    This is take 3.
    Originally released as Harmony 136-H.
    Reissued as Silvertone 3230.

    Credits:
    Fred Rich – piano, director
    Herman “Hymie” Farberman – trumpet [soloist in the 1st chorus, verse, and 4th & last chorus]
    Leo McConville – trumpet [soloist in the 3rd chorus]
    Miff Mole – trombone
    Teddy Klein/Kline – clarinet, alto sax, soprano sax [soloist on the bridge of the 4th & last chorus]
    Ken “Goof” Moyer – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax, soprano sax, mellophone
    Rudy Adler – clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, soprano sax
    John Cali – banjo
    Jack Hansen – tuba
    Sam Wishnuff – drums

    Source:
    Please read Javier Soria Laso’s comment below.

  • “Come on Red! (You Red Hot Devil Man)” – Ray Miller and his Orchestra (1924)

    “Come on Red! (You Red Hot Devil Man)” – Ray Miller and his Orchestra (1924)

    A toe tapper from Ray Miller featuring some fine trumpet work and a sax solo by Frank Trumbauer.

    In early 1924 Miller had come to Trumbauer’s home in St. Louis when Tram was working with Gene Rodemich to offer him a job to join his band in NYC. Encouraged by his friend Red McKenzie’s entreaty to get out of St. Louis, and buoyed by Miller’s revealation that Miff Mole was also joining Miller’s band, Tram took the job.

    Later that year, Billboard magazine wrote of the band: “The Miller combination is what is known as a ‘hot’ band. In fact they are so ‘hot’ that they sound and act as if they all wore flannel underwear. When they get steamed up the temperature begins to sizzle.”

    Recorded in New York City on March 28, 1924.
    Released as Brunswick 2606.

    Credits:
    Ray Miller – director
    Ray Lodwig, LeRoy “Roy” Johnston – trumpet
    Andy Sindelar – trombone
    Bernard J. “Lou” Dal(e)y – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax, soprano sax, oboe
    Andy Sannella – clarinet, alto sax, soprano sax
    Frank Trumbauer – C-melody sax
    Harry Archer, Danny Yates – violin
    Tom Satterfield – piano
    Frank DiPrima – banjo
    Louis Chassagne – tuba
    Ward Archer – drums
    Lee Terry – arranger

    Sources:
    That Growling Trumpet! A discography of Earle Preston Oliver (1894-1933) – Cyrus Bahmaie & Javier Soria Laso
    Tram: The Frank Trumbauer Story by Philip R. Evans and Larry F. Kiner with William Trumbauer.

  • “He’s Had No Lovin’ For A Long, Long Time” – Original New Orleans Jazz Band (1919)

    “He’s Had No Lovin’ For A Long, Long Time” – Original New Orleans Jazz Band (1919)

    A few weeks ago I uploaded an early jazz band led by a young Jimmy Durante. Today I am adding two more sides from an even earlier incarnation of the band known as the Original New Orleans Jazz Band.

    One of the first jazz bands released on the Gennett label – which was done in a NYC recording studio two years before they built their own studio in Richmond, Indiana.

    The 4500 series also marked a major change for the label. Previously, Gennett records were vertically cut like Pathé and Edison discs. For the 4500 series, they switched to lateral cut records. This disc is a very early example of Gennett’s lateral cut process.

    Recorded in New York City circa March 1919.
    This is matrix 6092a.
    Released as Gennett 4508.

    Credits:
    Jimmy Durante – piano, director
    Frank Christian – cornet
    Unknown Artist – trombone
    Achille Baquet – clarinet
    Arnold Loyacano – drums

  • “Ja Da” – Original New Orleans Jazz Band (1919)

    “Ja Da” – Original New Orleans Jazz Band (1919)

    A few weeks ago I uploaded an early jazz band led by a young Jimmy Durante. Today I am adding two more sides from an even earlier incarnation of the band known as the Original New Orleans Jazz Band.

    One of the first jazz bands released on the Gennett label – which was done in a NYC recording studio two years before they built their own studio in Richmond, Indiana.

    The 4500 series also marked a major change for the label. Previously, Gennett records were vertically cut like Pathé and Edison discs. For the 4500 series, they switched to lateral cut records. This disc is a very early example of Gennett’s lateral cut process.

    Recorded in New York City circa March 1919.
    This is matrix 6091a.
    Released as Gennett 4508.

    Credits:
    Jimmy Durante – piano, director
    Frank Christian – cornet
    Unknown Artist – trombone
    Achille Baquet – clarinet
    Arnold Loyacano – drums

  • “Wa-Da-Da (Ev’rybody’s Doin’ It Now)” – Paul Whiteman’s Rhythm Boys (1928)

    “Wa-Da-Da (Ev’rybody’s Doin’ It Now)” – Paul Whiteman’s Rhythm Boys (1928)

    Over 650 videos on the channel and we’re just getting around to a Bing Crosby record now. 😀

    This is a fun vocal record by the Rhythm Boys – a trio that sang with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra made up of a young Bing Crosby, Al Rinker, and Harry Barris. Thought it’d make a good Monday morning listen.

    Recorded in New York City on June 19, 1928.
    Two issued takes were recorded – this is take 6.
    Released as Columbia 1455-D.

    Credits:
    Bing Crosby – baritone vocal
    Al Rinker – tenor vocal
    Harry Barris – tenor vocal, piano

  • “Ev’rybody Shimmies Now” – Synco Jazz Band (1919)

    “Ev’rybody Shimmies Now” – Synco Jazz Band (1919)

    From their very first recording session, we have Synco Jazz Band on the vertically cut Pathé label performing “Ev’rybody Shimmies Now”.

    Led by Joseph Samuels, who can be heard on clarinet, who, along with Eph Hannaford on trombome, follows Jules Levy, Jr.’s melodic lead.

    So get out there and shimmy, already, ev’rybody!

    Recorded in New York City circa January, 1919.
    Released as Pathé 22099.

    Credits:
    Jules Levy, Jr. – cornet
    Ephraim Hannaford – trombone
    Joseph Samuels – clarinet, bass sax
    Larry Briers – piano
    Herman Birkin – drums

  • “Dip Your Brush – Snooks and the Memphis Ramblers (1931)

    “Dip Your Brush – Snooks and the Memphis Ramblers (1931)

    This band led by drummer “Snooks” Friedman recorded extensively for Victor and other labels in 1931-32. Around this same time the band played a long run at the Paramount Hotel in NYC, as well as recorded music for animated shorts and film. Snooks continued to play music until his retirement in 1972.

    Recorded in New York City on May 21, 1931.
    Released as Victor 22720.

    Credits:
    Ben Friedman (Snooks) – drums, director
    James Migliore, Estes Monasco – trumpet
    Ken Herlin – trombone
    Walter Ashby – vocals, clarinet, alto sax
    Elly Bellare – clarinet, alto sax
    Al Muller – tenor sax
    Rupe Biggadike – piano
    Bob Cooke – banjo, guitar
    Chuck Jordan – tuba, string bass

  • “Papa Blues” – Dixie Daisies (1923)

    “Papa Blues” – Dixie Daisies (1923)

    The final transfer of a record I included in a recent test of stylii for 78 rpm playback:
    https://youtu.be/HAEKTT7vgrI

    I chose this one to test as it was in rougher shape with a lot of scratches. You can hear how it cleaned up. Not too shabby!

    An interesting Max Kortlander composition with some nice trumpet and alto sax.

    If anyone has personnel ideas, let me know!

    Recorded in New York City in April, 1923.
    Released as Cameo 348.

    Credits:
    Bob Haring (arr) dir:
    Earl Oliver, Herman “Hymie” Farberman – trumpet
    Eph(riam) Hannaford – trombone
    Morris Payes – clarinet
    Dick Schwartz – alto sax
    Morton Lichstein – piano
    Frank Reino – banjo
    Jules “Chin” Tott – tuba
    E. Lieberman – drums

    Source:
    “Earl Oliver Discography” by Cyrus Bahmaie and Javier Soria Laso, based on Ralph Wondraschek’s research for the Rivermont BSW-1172 compilation “Hotsy Totsy Town: 1922-1923” and also drawn from Johnson-Shirley’s ADBORAF coupled with aural evidence.

  • “Midnight Rhythm” – Washboard Rhythm Band (1933)

    “Midnight Rhythm” – Washboard Rhythm Band (1933)

    An oddball Columbia session for the Washboard Rhythm Kings – who usually recorded for Victor or Vocalion. Odder still – of the eight tunes recorded, only two were released domestically in the U.S. on Columbia’s 14000 series. Four sides, including this one, were only released in the U.K.

    This actually was the first WRK recording I ever heard – It came up on a Spotify playlist 8-9 years ago and I immediately began looking for other recordings by this group. It was the beginning of a long obsession!

    The main theme is relatively straightforward and the solos are all good – but honestly, it was the infectious energized vocal performance by Taft Jordan that won me over. While some feel he was doing his level best to deliver an impression of a Louis Armstrong vocal performance, I feel he adds his own character and spirit to it that makes it his own. I love his vocalized trombone-like slides into the lower register at the end of each line.

    I’m not sure as to the rarity of this one overseas, but this deep depression cut was not easy to find here in the U.S. – Not many come up for sale and I feel quite lucky to have this nice copy. Enjoy!

    Fun fact: Taft Jordan went on to have a long career in jazz – in 1959 he played trumpet on Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain!

    Recorded in New York City on March 8, 1933.
    Released in the U.K. as Columbia CB 626 and in France as Columbia DF 1303.

    Credits
    Taft Jordan – trumpet, vocals
    Ben Smith – clarinet, alto sax
    Carl Wade – tenor sax
    Steve Washington – banjo, guitar
    John “Shorty” Haughton (?) – trombone
    Jerome Carrington (?) – alto sax
    Clarence Profit (?) – piano
    Unknown Artist – washboard

  • “Passion Flower” – Johnny Hodges and Orchestra (1941)

    “Passion Flower” – Johnny Hodges and Orchestra (1941)

    I was reading an old “Blindfold Test” interview with Charlie Parker from an old issue of Down Beat. For those unfamiliar, the Down Beat Blindfold Test was when an artist would come in and listen to a series of records – then give their unvarnished thoughts on each; sometimes trying to guess the players, other times just commenting on the arrangement or the playing itself.

    Bird was played this record at the end of the interview. The interviewer (Leonard Feather) noted that Parker’s face lit up in a beatific grin as he recognized the soloist. “That was Duke—featuring Johnny Lily Pons Hodges! I always took off my had to Johnny Hodges ’cause he can sing with the horn. Oh, he’s a beautiful person. That record deserves all the stars you can muster.”

    With Bird’s waxing rhapsodic about this record, I had to go pull this one off the shelf to give it a fresh listen. A beautiful Billy Strayhorn arrangement that begins with Duke at the keys. A lovely number, indeed. Hodges’ tone is pure and clear throughout – his timing impeccably lyrical.

    Recorded in Hollywood, California on July 3, 1941.
    Released as Bluebird 30-0817.

    Credits:
    Ray Nance – trumpet
    Lawrence Brown – trombone
    Johnny Hodges – soprano sax, alto sax
    Harry Carney – baritone sax
    Duke Ellington – piano
    Jimmy Blanton – string bass
    Sonny Greer – drums
    Billy Strayhorn – arrangement